I also agree. Normal view, should be similar to a spreadsheet.
As an additional comment, I think what may be confusing in the current way of working PSPP is mode "selection / editing" cell with 1 click. I mean that in a
spreadsheet (Calc LO example), with 1 click (primary or secondary) you select a "cell", and with 2 click (primary) editing mode is activated. This greatly affects the variable view, since in some options automatically opens an options window.
This I mention, as this would allow the user to have more control (or at least, that the behavior of the application more predictable)
Hugo